Month: December 2013
How to find out if you’re in a flood zone in Gloucester MA From Kenny MacCarthy
Step by step instructions, including web addresses, to see the current and future FEMA FIRM maps for Gloucester MA.
Links used in video:
http://www.gloucester-ma.gov/index.aspx?NID=581
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Super Fast Method to a Fresh Baked Home-Made Pie!
I don’t know where my brain is sometimes but this is the first year it occurred to me that pies can be prepared ahead of time and frozen, to be magically available when in a pinch! Over Thanksgiving I knew that this year I would be very pressed for time at Christmas. I made several extra apple pies and rather than cooking, wrapped them tightly in foil, with a plastic bag around that, and stored them in the freezer. I had never frozen a pie before and wasn’t even sure if it was best to freeze cooked or uncooked.
Last night at dinner I was reminded by husband and kids of pies in the freezer. I pulled out an apple pie and placed it in the frig to defrost overnight. Several hours prior to baking I removed it from the refrigerator, which allowed it to reach room temperature. By the time it went in the oven this afternoon it was completely defrosted. Baked in a 375 degree oven for approximately 50 minutes, the pie cooked perfectly! Happy Husband, Happy Kids!
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3 Days til Christmas Song ~ “Happy Holiday”
Scene from the film Holiday Inn (1942) ~ the inn is open and Bing Cosby and Marjorie Reynolds sing “Happy Holidays”
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Pileated Woodpecker
By Shanti, age 5.
Does anyone know of open gallery space on Rocky Neck next summer?
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Neti Pot Competitions All The Rage In Russia
The winner is so getting laid tonight.
International broads all over the world just itching to get their hands on the winner.
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Nature’s Art
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Everyone Was A Winner
at yesterday’s Season’s Best Cookie Competition and Solstice Party coordinated so exquisitely by Gigi Mederos and Stevie Black during the Rocky Neck Holiday Art & Fine Crafts Festival at the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck. Attendees got to taste the incredible and diverse array of cookies entered into the competition, and enjoy the antics of the serious but fun loving panel of judges made up of Mayor Carolyn Kirk, Ed Collard and Sister Felicia. Many attendees shopped and got to enjoy the wonderful selection of art and craft items available while checking some people off their lists. The artists got to enjoy selling their creations and knowing that they have made some money this holiday season. We got to enjoy the beautiful sound of Eva DiLascio’s singing group that unexpectedly appeared for an impromptu round of Christmas carols. Mayor Kirk had fun on her birthday and went home with a beautiful birthday cake baked by Karen Tibbetts. There were many new faces at the event, so the Cultural Center wins some new appreciators of the beauty of the space and the great things we have going on there.
The winners of the Season’s Best Cookie Competition (drum roll please) were:
1st place Salted Caramel Cookies by Alison Darnell and Heather Ahearn – winner of the coveted “Got Milk?” hand painted silk cookie scarf by Gigi Mederos
2nd place Savory Cookie by Sydney and Kaleigh Cirafice
3rd place Cranberry Turtle Bars by Diane Stringer
Classic Chocolate Candy Cane Bars by Jessica McGovern
Best presentation Cranberry Cardamom Shortbread Icycles by Two Time Winner, Jessica McGovern
but all entrants were winners because they get to have a group cookie baking class with Sister Felicia!
The Holiday Festival is open today from noon to 4:00pm with the final weekend of the festival being held Saturday and Sunday, December 28 & 29 from noon to 4:00PM with a Pre New Years Party on the 29th from 2:00-4:00PM.
E.J. Lefavour
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Thank you to Musicians, Sponsors, Volunteers & Fans for a magical solstice
What a gift it is to live in a community full of tremendously talented musicians, who can bring world-class music to one of Gloucester’s most treasured spaces.
All the performers were at the top of their game last night and, based on their level of talent, they could have brought giant egos with them.
But they chose to leave their egos at the door and collaborate at the highest level of professionalism in order to lift a packed house at Gloucester’s UU Church to a level of musical joy that many said they hadn’t felt in years.
Bravo!
Thanks to all the sponsors, volunteers and Cape Ann TV crew who helped to bring The Cape Ann Winter Solstice Concert to life.
Thanks, most of all, to everyone who came out to support our local music treasures and help restore the Meetinghouse so it can become a premier listening venue for dozens of major musical events every year.
Based on last night’s success, it’s safe to say we’ll be doing this again and again and again. Stay tuned …
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WINTER SOLSTICE SALUTATIONS FROM THOMAS PHILBROOK
Greetings to you!
Winter began with the solstice at 12:11 PM , December 21 (EST) — the shortest day of the year.
Wishing for you a warm and cozy holiday season.
Tom Philbrook
www.facebook.com/PhilbrookDigitalArt
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Can’t Wrap This!
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Octopus Salad
Octopus Salad
Ingredients
2½ cups Octopus, cooked, cleaned, and cut into ¾ inch pieces
1 cup sweet Vidalia Onion, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon parsley, finely chopped
¼ teaspoon red crushed pepper
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
6 tablespoons red wine vinegar
¼ cup pure olive oil
juice of 1 large lemon
Step-by-Step
1 defrost octopus in large sink filled with cold water( will take several hours)
2 fill large stockpot with water; bring to rolling boil over high heat
3 carefully add defrosted Octopus to boiling water by holding the head firmly while lowering the legs in and out of the boiling water 3 times allowing the legs to shrink and curl; release and submerge octopus in water; return to boil
4 boil octopus 1 1/2- 2 hours or until fork tender; using long kitchen tongs, remove from water; cool 10 minutes in large colander
5 clean by removing lose skin, eyes, and center core; and cut legs and cleaned head into 3/4 inch bite size pieces
6 place cooked, cleaned, and cut octopus in mixing bowl, add onions; mix; reserve
7 in separate bowl, combine remaining ingredients; whisk well; pour over reserved octopus and onions; mix well
8 transfer to airtight container; refrigerate minimum 24 hours (I prefer to marinate several days); remove from refrigerator 1 hours before serving
Notes~
(1) Do not be fooled by the size of the uncooked octopus, as shown in the photos they cook down in size considerably
(2) I usually cook two or three 4-5lb frozen octopus which yields the amount shown in the first photo
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March of the Olive and Carrot Penguins
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Community Photos
Hi Joey,
All the best of the season to you, yours and your many blog viewers!
See you in the spring.
Bruce Louise Bonham
St. Catharines, Ontario
O’Maley Staff Mosley ugly sweater crew
Nichole Schrafft submits-
Great Holiday Photo taken by my co-worker, Gail Estes. Just made a bunch of thank you cards out of it. Incase you’re looking for a blog photo 🙂
Hi Joey,
Here are 2 shots from my travels around Cape Ann on Friday. I was coming down Rte 128 to Grant Circle and the late afternoon light captured my eye, so I snapped this as I was stopped waiting to enter the rotary.
The second one is a tree behind Woodman’s in Essex. I just thought it was lovely sitting by itself along the Essex River.
Mary Barker
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Why the Vikings fled Norway
From Al Bezanson
Why the Vikings fled Norway ___ For ages it has been obligatory for Scandinavians to ‘enjoy’ lutefisk at yule time. Having tasted this delicacy in Stavanger myself, I found it understandable that millions of citizens would emigrate from that beautiful region just to escape the obligation. Anyhow, that’s my theory. Lutefisk is cod marinated in lye over a very long period of time. If you enjoy snacking on Ivory soap you might enjoy lutefisk
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Community Stuff 12/22/13
It’s the final Cape Ann Community Contra Dance of 2013!
We look forward to celebrating the turning of the year with new friends and old on the dance floor.
Take a break and come enjoy the live music and the dancing fun.
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Fred Bodin Has Some Mack Daddy Gloucester T Shirts (and a killer attack lobster)
Check Out Bodin Historic Photo and get you some Gloucester Swag.
I use the Gloucester mug he gave me for my birthday every day of the week.
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Winter Solstice Cape Ann Farmer’s Market At The UU
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More Snowy Morning Photos
Iron Curlique
Winterberry ~ Ilex verticillata
Dogwood Branches ~ Cornus florida
Rosie
Red Bow
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4 Days til Christmas Song ~ Louis Prima Recording of “What Will Santa Claus Say”
Louis Prima, “The King of Swing,” was a New Orleans born son of Sicilian immigrants. Primo’s career spanned five decades and he was a trumpeter, singer, songwriter, and actor. Prima was also the voice of the orangutan in Disney’s the Jungle Book, performing the song “I Wanna be Like You.”
I am curious to know if any GMG readers ever saw Louis Prima play during his long career.
Good Morning Gloucester 